A bogus customer asked to look at a mobile phone and then ran out of the shop with it.

Blackburn Magistrates' Court heard the owner of Padiham Mobile Phone and Computers gave chase to Robert Wallace but was unable to catch him.

Wallace, 33, of Pine Street, Nelson, pleaded guilty to theft of a mobile phone.

He was sentenced to six weeks in prison suspended for 12 months with a 15-day rehabilitation activity requirement and six months drug rehabilitation requirement.

He was also ordered to pay £330 compensation to the victims.

Victoria Forrest, prosecuting, said Wallace entered the Burnley Road shop and said he was interested in buying a new phone.

He pointed one out and asked if he could have a look at it.

“The owner handed it over and he simply turned and ran out of the shop,” said Miss Forrest.

She said Wallace was identified from CCTV footage and subsequently arrested.

“I have spoken to the shop owner this morning and he says the phone was not recovered,” said Miss Forrest.

Mark Williams, mitigating, said his client was adamant he had taken the phone back the next day and returned it to the owner.

District Judge Alexandra Preston said there had clearly been some pre-planning and she accepted the owner's claim the phone had not been recovered.